Bowling Tips to Improve Your Game and Scores!

Bowling tips for the intermediate bowler. Use these tips to improve your bowling game.

Keep Your Arm Swing Free
The key to having a free arm swing is keeping your hand grip relaxed in the ball. Don't squeeze fingers or thumb, keep them relaxed, especially the thumb. To have a relaxed thumb in the ball your ball has to be fitted and drilled correctly. If your thumb hole feels loose it will cause you to squeeze the ball and then muscle your swing. Inserts in the thumb and finger holes can help give you a more secure fit. If you have a large webbing at the base of your thumb adding extra bevel around the top of the thumb hole will give you a deeper secure fit. The free arm swing enables you to swing the ball effortlessly from the shoulder.

The 45 Degree Hand Position
This is the easiest and most natural hand position to use. In the 45 degree hand position the hand is partially under and partially to the side of the ball with the tips of both pinky-s touching. Non bowling hand supports ball. This promotes a free arm swing.

Use Your Lower Body Leverage
On the last step bend your knee to get down lower to the lane and slide your foot straight towards the foul line making sure it does not turn. Think of it as sliding into a deep knee bend. Counter balance your body by moving your non-sliding leg side ways to the opposite side of your bowling arm. Keep your upper body fairly erect as you get down low to the foul line.

Finish Up Close To The Foul Line
You should be about six inches from the foul line at the end of the delivery to have an optimal release. In an optimal release the ball is lofted a small distance over the foul line before it makes contact with the lane. This gets the ball further down the lane conserving energy when it hits the pins. If you are finishing up too far away from the foul line move closer in during the stance.

Relax Thumb, Come Through Ball
Don't try to over lift or turn the bowling ball during the release. It will only cause muscling and misdirection of your arm swing. Instead just relax your thumb and come cleanly through the ball as you release it and follow through, keep your eyes focused on your target. For a strong release you need good lower body leverage and you also need to finish up close to the foul line.

Bowling Is A Mental Game
Analyze your delivery and think about what you are doing when you practice. Feel your good shots as you make them and imprint it into your mind so you can repeat them. Use visualization to practice off the lanes in your mind making perfect shots.

Try The Drop Away Method
The drop away replaces the push away. In the drop away method hold the ball high up in the stance at shoulder height and take a small first step but don't move the ball (no push away). Instead just let the ball drop down into the swing on the second step. If this feels awkward to you try sliding your foot out on the first step until you get used to it.

Shoe Sliding Problems (Sticking)
If you have trouble sliding buy a Dexter red slide sole and some velcro self sticking fastener. Cut red slide sole and velcro self sticking fastener the same size as rubber heel on slide shoe. Paste velcro fastener on rubber heal and fasten red slide sole.

Develop Your Own Bowling Style
There is no set way that bowlers bowl and anything can work when a bowler repeats the same exact movements enough. Do what feels relaxing and the most natural to you. Developing your own bowling style will improve your game and scores.

Watch Professional Bowlers On TV
Watch the professional bowlers on television and record them with your VCR. Play back the tape and watch in slow motion. Study their technique to improve your own game. Women pros are great to watch because they rely on finesse over power.

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